Swimming system



UPPINCOT"? March 17; 1931.

SWIMMING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR March 17, 1931. .J, w. pp co 1,796,291

SWIMMING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 17, 1931 v PA ENT: OFFICE JOHN W. LIPPINGOTT, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS SWIMMING SYSTEM Application filed January 25, 1930. Serial No. 423,518.

My invention relatesto means for produc ing an endless stream in an endless down X 6 mg means connected and co-operatmg therewith in connection with a pecuhar water supstream swimming course, and a closed recirculating system, and defecating and sterilizply and drainage system essential thereto, and the object thereof is to afford bathers their option of wading or swimming in standing or running clear and sparkling sterilized water at all times, and I attain this and other objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an endless down stream swimming course, and interconnected therewith various purposed wading and swimming pools. a

. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view from the line X-X Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is across sectional view from the line Y-Y Fig. 1. I

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view from the line Z-Z Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an under-overflow interconnecting fragments of two adjoining wading and swimming pools, whose walls are removed for. the sake of clarity.

Fig. ,6 is a perspective view of a flat nozzle. Fig. 7 is a side view-of aflat nozzle, and is a modification of. Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a front View of Fig. 7, showing nozzle aperture closed as it will appear when not in service.'

Fig. 9 is the same as Fi 8, except nozzle aperture is open as it wil appear when in service. a

Fig. 10 is a front View of a multiplicity of fiat nozzles, which are set at various angles as to the horizontal.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view-of an. underground double valve chamber.

Fig. 12 is a front view of a modification of Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9. I

a Fig. 13 is a detail front view of a rotatable connection of an adjusting screw with the stem of a nozzle. v

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of piping arrangement for connecting a chlorinating machine with the suction lines and a discharge line of either of the two nozzle feed pumps.

Fig. 15 is asectional view of a modification of Fig. 5.

Similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several drawings.

The swimming system herein contemplated, as shown in Fig. 1 comprises the following principal features, viz. an endless down stream swimming course, which will be hereinafter referred to as the flume, and is designated by A, a childrens wading and swimming pool designated by B, a restricted adults wadingand swimming pool designated by C, and an adults wading and swimming pool designated by D, and a diving pool designated by E, and co-operating therewith a reservoir desi ated by F, a settling tank designated by g: filters designated by numerals 1,- 2 and 3, a chlorinating machine designated by W, two hair, lint and other dreg catchers designated by 87 and 87 and a combination water supply and drainage system, all of whose functions and connections will be described later herein.

The fiume A should be approximately of the formshown in Fig. 1, and'not over four feet deep, which is deep enough to swim in, and not'too deep to be reasonably safe. It should be fifteen or twenty feet wide, and as far around as desired, but at least one-eighth of a mile. I

The childrens wading and swimmingpool in the water, and thus easily learn to balance their bodies'so as to parallel the surface and do the so called mud crawl,,a'nd then nat-' urally learn thejdog paddle stroke, which is the easiest way to learn to swim when not attended by a competent instructor.

The adults wading and swimming pool C, may be as large as desired, but fifty feet wide by a hundred and fifty feet long is usually considered a good sized pool. It should not a wading and swimming pool C, the athletic exceed thirty inches deep at the upper end, but slope to forty inches dee within thirty feet and then to four feet eep within the next twenty feet, thence approximately level 1 to the lower end. The object in havin the upper end shallow is to enable adults to earn to swim by first mud crawling. This wading and swimming pool C, is intended to be restricted to parents so they may be near 1 ing, diving equipped with all appliances essential to such athletic sports as are consistent with this depth.

' from all directions to its respective drainageeach from another by walkways J, J

their children, and to ladies and their escorts,

and others who are quietly disposed. Splashshould not tolerated in this pool.

The wading and swimming pool Dis also intended-for adults and is simllar in all respects to the pool C, except that it is intended for the more boisterous and should be wading and swimming pool D, and the diving pool E, will hereinafter be respectively re erred to as the compartments B, C, D and E, unless some particular one is especially referred to. Also the B and E compartments are respectively to be considered as the head and tail com artments. v

The flume 1s provided with screened drainage pits 15 and \15, and 16and- 16' in the bottom thereof, and said bottom should'have such slope as will drain proportionately to each. The B, C, D and E compartments are respectively provided with drainage pits 17 to 20 inclusive, and each bottom should slope pit. A ve slight slope will be suflicient in all. cases, i the bottoms are smooth.

The various compartments are separated,

I J, and are surrounded by a promenade K, which in turn is surrounded by the flume A. The flume and the various compartments, E excepted. are provided with steps L in orderto make ingress and egress easy.

The flume is spanned by a bridge M in order to make the promenade accessible to non-swimmers, and those who are not in bathing attire.

The reservoir F; may be of any desired 1 size, but should hold at least as much water as the flume and all of the compartments and settling tank G combined, and its bot-- tom should be a few inches higher than the normal water level in the flume and the vaand swimming under water and rious compartments, so that water will flow by gravity from the reservoir to fill the flume and the various compartments through the water supply line H. This water supply line is provided with a control valve 4 near said reservoir. This water supply line'is also provided with individual water supply line valves 5, 5', 6, 7, 8 and 9 opening respectively into lateral lines, 10, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

Theyare called individual watersupplyline valves because 5 and 5 when open will permit water to' flow by gravity from the reservoir into the flume through the water sup ply line H and the lateral lines 10 and 10, i

and when the other individual water supply line valves 6 to 9 inclusive are open, water will flow through lateral lines 11 to 14 inclusive respectively and respectively fill the compartments B, C, D and E. The primary purpose of these in connection with the water supply line H,

lateral lines is to fill the flume and the various compartments, either collectively or separately.

These lateral lines 10 and 10 and 11 to 14 inclusive are secondarily intended to be used fto empty the flume and the various compartments B, C, D, and E, and are respectively connected with drainage pits l5 and 15' and 16 and 16' and 17 to 20 inclusive respective- 'ly' in the bottoms of the flume and the va Q rious compartments. Said lateral lines 10 and 10. and 11 tol inclusive are respectively provided with lateral line valves 21 and 21' and 22 to 25 inclusive between the points where the water supply' line'fI-I through its individual water supply valves intersects said laterals and'the intersection ofsaid laterals with the main drainage'lineI."

When either or all of the lateral lines are being used aswater supply lines .to convey reservoir water to the flume oreither ,.or all .of the various compartr'nents,fisuch; lateral line valves must be ."closed..v fOIi thYother hand, if all of the individual watef supply valves 5 and 5' and 6 to 9 inclusive are closed, and the lateralline valves 21 and 21 and 22. to 25 inclusive are open the flume and various comp'artments will empty collective into the settling tank, or the flume, or "either of the compartments may be filled or emptied 'separately by the proper manipulation of these two sets of valves. c 1

These lateral lines and valves are to func tion for a third purposewhich will be dis closed herein later, and for the sake of brevity will hereinafter be referred to as the triplex lines and valves.

The settling tank G isintended primarily to receive for salvage the water used in back-' washing the filters, and the waterused for cleaning theflume and various compartments, (E excepted) and the rainwater, splash etc. which falls on the promenade. Incidentally, however, there will be a considerable volume of overflow water which it of the flume and compartments.

1 The settling tank should be deep enough to contain the volume expected of it below the orifice of the drainage line I, so that the fiume and various compartments (E excepted), may drain thereto by gravity. I

It is thought expedient to only lay the drainage and triplex'lines low enough to utilize gravit flow from the fume' and compartmentsB, (l and D to the settling tank, hence y when these are emptytherewillstill be about .six'feetof water in compartment E, which may pumped outand passed through the filters by the filter pump N, or by the pump Rand R in regular service.

The compartment E will undoubtedly accumula'te regs that will be unfit to pass through the filters, and such residue may be washed into the sewer line 55.

The promenade floor should be nearly I level, except for a slight slope from various directions to. the various screened catch l a filter main feedline 31 basins a and a, b and b, 0 and 0", d and (Z, and e and e to let rainwater, splash etc. into respective surface drainage lines 26 to 30 inclusive, all of which connect at convenient points with the main drainage line I.

The filters 1, 2 and 3 are interconnected by through respective individual filter. feed lines 32, 32 and 32 which are respectively provided with valves 33, 33' and 33 This filter main feed line is connected to the discharge side of a filter feed pump N, and'said pump draws its water from the'settling tank through a suction line 34 provided with a valve 35, or instead said filter pump may beconnected with and draw its water through a suction line 36 connected with .the main drainage line I. The suction line 36 is provided with a valve 37, so that when eithervalve 35, or 37 is closed, said pump will'draw its-water through the other.

At such times as the flume, or any or all of the compartments are idle and they are to be drained it will be more economical to connect the filterpump with the drainage line I, and thus save the lift of the difference of several feet on account of the Water in the settlin tank being ata lower level than that of the ume or compartments to be drained.

. The main drainage line valve 38 must of course be closed when the fi lter pump is connected with said main drainage line.

The filters are also interconnected on their discharge sides, that is they discharge respectively through individual filter discharge lines 39, 39 and 39 which are provided with valves 40,40 and 40 which 0 en'into the main filter discharge line 41, w ich-v in turn discharges into the reservoir F, and said main filter discharge line may be 'provided with a valve 42to prevent water from backflowing when the filters are at rest.

Backwashing ofthe filters is accomplished by a backwash pump 0 whose suction line 43 provided with a valve 44 may draw its water is closed the backwash pump will draw-its water through the other line. The discharge line of this backwash pump 0 constitutes a backwash water feed line 47, and is connected with each of the filters 1, 2, and 3 respectively by backwash individual water feed lines 48, 48, and 48 provided with valves 49,49, and 49 The other side of the filters is connected by individual backwash water Waste lines 50, and 50, and 50 provided with valves 51, and 51', and 51 which open into a backwash main waste line 52, and discharges into the settling tank.

By correct manipulation of the valves which serve the filter feed pump N, said filtersmay function separately or collectively, and likewise by correct manipulation of the valves which serve the backwash pump 0 said filters may be backwashed separately or collectively. 1 1

Obviously the flume, and either or all of the compartments may be drawn from collectively, or separately for either filter backwash Water, or their contents may be pumped directly through the filters and discharged into the reservoir.

The reservoir is provided With a valved line 53 to a sewer through which leaves and other dregs may be Washed into said sewer. There will also probably be a residue in the settling tank which will be unfit to pass The individual water supply line valves 5 and 5, and 6'to 9 inclusive are respectively in close proximity with the triplex valves 21 and 21, and 22 to 25 inclusive, hence for Y the sake of expediency are housed in pairs in underground double valve pits P which are provided with covers 56, that is the Water 5 supply line valve 5 and the triplex'valve 21 are housed-in one pit, and the valves 5 and 21 are housed in another, and so on 6 to 9 inclusive and 22 to 25 inclusive consecutively and respectively. The flume .A is provided with means to produce an' endless current therein in the direction indicated by arrows in Fig. 1. Said means consist of a multiplicity of flat nozzles 57, each one being screwed into a T 58, and each .Tbeirlg connected to another by a. short nipple 59, thus forming a nozzle header 60.

b thatthe tendency of water to diverge is the greatest factor to be considered in producing an eddyless current in an endless flume, e. g., if a portion of the surface of a body of water is raised by pouring-water straight down, the raised portion of the surface immediately commences to spread in all directions', but ifwater is forced through a nozzle that is disposed near and parallel to the surface it commences to spread as soon as it contacts with the surface in divergent lines on account of its velocity; hence if a stream from a round or square nozzle one square melt in area is discharged therefrom at a given velocity paralleling the surface and in the middle of a flume twenty feet wide its straight awayvelocity is lessened approximately two hundred and forty times by the time its divergent lines contact the sides of the flume, because it has to diverge into a stream two hundred and forty times as wide as the nozzle stream, but the same volume of water if dis charge at the same velocity through a flat nozzle thirty-two inches wide by one-eight inch opening, (aperture) which is the same area as the round nozzle above mentioned its straightaway velocity will only be lessened eight times by the time its divergent lines contact the sides of the fiume. If an aperture as wide as the flume was used there would not be any divergencies, provided the nozzle velocity is strong enough, or provided further that one or more of the nozzles on the inside end of the nozzle header is elevated efiiciency than round ones, and consider them another outstanding feature of this invention. The width of these nozzles is a matter of expediency, and it is possible to make'and use one as wide as the flume, but I prefer to have a series of narrow nozzles as is shown in Fig. 10. The thickness of the nozzle stream is also a matter of expediency, and

may be regulated to suit the whims of the swimmers by increasing or decreasing the aperture of the nozzles as shown by dotted line 62 in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 12.

The flat nozzle as herein contemplated, and

as shown in'Figs, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 comprises a top plate 63 and a bottom plate 63' of wood or metal, and said plates are connected by a hinge 64 near the stem 65. The stem 65 screws into a T 58 The top and bottom plate may be connected by telescopic sides as is shown in Fig. 12, or they may be loosely connected by foldable fabrics 66 and 66' as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 in order to provide for adjustability of the nozzle aperture 67. This adjustment is accomplished by lugs 68 and 68 formed or attached "to the top plate and corresponding lugs 69 and 69 on the bottom plate. The top plate lugs are provided with threads to engage nozzle adjustin bolts 70 and 70 and are provided also wit wing or nut shaped heads. The bottom plate lugs are provided with smooth holes through which the adjusting bolts, whose lower ends are not threaded protrude and are engaged by cotter keys or lock nuts. 94 and 94 in order .to permit them to rotate when said bolts are turned, as shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 12. When said adjusting bolts'are turned to the right the nozzle aperture will be lessened, and vice versa as is shown by dotted line in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 12. The top plate will normally rest on the bottom plate when water is not being forced through the nozzle, but as soon as a stream is forced through the nozzle said top plate will be forced upward until the cotter keys come in contact with the lower side'of the'bottom plate lugs 69 and 69'. I

These adjusting means apply equally as well to a nozzle whosesides 72 and 7 2 of the top plate and 93 and 93 of the bottom plate are made of solid material, and telescope each other as shown in Fig. 12.

Each nozzle is independently adapted to adjustment as to angle relative to the horizontal as is shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 10. The nozzle headers 60 and 60' are composed of Ts and nipples, and while they may be screwed together tight enough to make a watertight joint, they may be tightened a little more, or slightly loosened so that any or all of them may be slightly angled up or down.

A nozzle is connected with each T and its adjustment as to angle accomplished by an adjusting screw 73 whose threads are engaged by threads in a fixed bar 7 4, and the lower end of the adjusting screw is rotatably and slidably connected in any suitable way with the base of said nozzle, for instance as in Fig. 7 wherein the turning of the'screw to the left will tilt the aperture end upward, and vice versa when turned to the right.

Perspective view Fig. 6 illustrates another means, of accomplishing angle adjustmentof the nozzles. In this casethe nozzle is connected to the header by a Moran flexible joint 7 5, and actuating of the adjusting screw will change the angle of said nozzle without disturbing the T. I

Diversity of nozzle angle is essential, and frequent changes will be very desirable, at, times which will be disclosed herein later.

An endless surface current is produced in of the nozzle header 60. the flume A which will permit swimmers to 1:

swim as hard as they want, or to float round and round without eifort, and this current is produced by nozzle feed pumps R and R, which draw water through their suction lines the bottom of the compartment E, and force it through the various nozzles 57 in nozzle headers 60 and 60'.

Regarding the adj ustability of the nozzle as to adjustment to various angles, for instance if the nozzles on the left side of the flume were slightly submerged, or even near the surface, their stream would diverge to such an extent as to contact the rounded corners of the inner wall and form an eddy near the points S and S.v Such an eddy might be pleasing to the swimmers at times, as a diversion, but it would be objectionable if constant. Also a considerable eddy would'materially slacken the straightaway stream, hence it is essential to be able to tilt several of the left hand noz- 'zles so that their stream will notcontact the surface of the flume until it reaches the point a S just around the corner of the Q end of the flume and the S point at the Qend, and thus eliminate the eddies, unless they are at times requested by the swimmers.

Another effect of the upward tilted nozzles above the flume surface, under which the swimmers may go for fifteen or twenty feet to i Where this sheet of water will contact the flume surface,'and their bodies in a pouring effect, which will be intensely pleasing to fmanyi Several zones of variously affected currents may be produced by various adjustments of the nozzles in various portions of the header.

A water wheel U actuated by a motor V may be installed in either one or both ends of the flume, and operated to produce the endless current either by itself or inconnection with the nozzle streams, and as another form of diversion create the pleasing effect of riding the waves. The wheel would of course,

have to be installed in a wheel chamber 95,'

and will draw-its feed water by undertow fromthe bottom of the flume. v

' The flume A is interconnectedto each of the compartments by lateral under-overflows 78, i and each compartment is connected to its next adjoining by longitudinal under-overflows 96. These under-overflows are shown in detail Figs. 5 and 15. Each of said underoverflows is provided with a valve 7 9 as shown in Fig. 5 or 82 as shown in Fig. 15 for the purpose of regulating their functions, which are twofold,-and very essential. Their 'primaryfunction is to permit a gravity flow of as much water into and through the va-.

rious compartments as the pumps R and R draw from the bottom of the compartment E I and force throughthenozzles to produce the 77 and 7 7 which are connected with and near to angle: It is essential that they be adapted is that theywill produce a'solid sheet of wa-- ter six to twelve inches, or more if desired- .endless current in the flume, and thereby equalize the depth of each, relative to the others, which is necessary in order to keep the flume from overflowing, and by permitting the water to rise in them from the bottom of the flume there is no interference with the surface current in said flume.

It is contemplated herein to install a chlorinating machine W as shown in perspective view Fig. 14 so as to connect with each of the suction lines 7 7 and 7 7 of nozzle feed pumps R and R, and also avalved line on the dlscharge side of one of the pumps R in order to get pressure to induce and dilute a flow of chlorine liquid through said chlorine machine, and into the suction lines 77 and 77'.

The nozzle feed pumps R and R will of course enforce a longitudinal and endless sired velocity of the surface current in theflume. This same volume will have to pass through the various compartments, and may produce too much longitudinal surface current in the various compartments for nonswimmers and beginners if the entire flume surplus is forced to pass longitudinally through said compartments via the underoverflows 96, hence lateral under-overflows 78 with valves 82 are provided to interconnect the flume directly with each of the compartments, and thereby bring about a more promiscuous distribution of the circulated-water, and materially reduce the longitudinal surface current in said compartments.

Sometimes, it may be desirous to eliminate the surface current in one or more of the compartments to the reatest ossible extent, and it can be reduce to near y the status of standing water, by connecting an L 92 as shown in detail Fig. 15 ,to any or all of the under-overflows, but especially to the longifoo tudinal under-overflows. "Water may then be discharged from the under-overflows vertically straight up or straight down, laterally,

or at any intermediate angle. Furthermore,-

i if for any reason it may be considered expedicut; or desirable, a pipe 97 may be connected to the L and the water discharged on the bottom. In either case the same volume of water will flow in and out of the compartments. Also the under-overflows 96 may a considerable longitudinal surface current or reduce it to a minimum in either or all of the compartments; 4

The under-overflow valves 79 and 82 are 5 housed in underground single valve pits as shown in Fig; 15. v

Should it be desired to completelyisolate the compartment'B it-will only be necessary to close all of itsunder-overflowvalves, but 0 it would be at the sacrifice of recirculation therein. Should it then be desired to drain andclean this compartment it will only be necessary to open the triplex valve 22. When it is desired to refill it,'the triplex valve must be closed, and the water supply valve 6 opened. When it is full enough it willonly be necessary to close .the'valve 6, and reopen all of the under-overflow'valves in order to' put it back into service with recirculation reestablished. The taking of compartment B out of service willnot aflect recirculation'in the flume, or other compartments, but it will stop the longitudinal surface current in compartment All of this valve manipulation just mentioned applies analogously to what has to be done in order to take the compartment C out of service, but in order to maintain endless recirculation in the flame and other compartments it is necessary to detour the recirculatingcurrent around the compartment C, that is from the compartment B to compartment D, which is done by opening the water supply. line valves 6 and 8, which will permit a flow by. gravity from B to'D through the triplex line 11, a portion of the water supply line H and into Dvia the triplex line 13. This detour may also be accomplished by substituting an equal portion of the drainage line 1, closing the water supply line valves 6 and 8, and opening their companion triplex valves 22 and 24.

The manipulation of the various valves to accomplish the detouring of water from compartment B to compartment D in order to get around compartment C applies equally as well, if it is desired to take the compartment D out of service; that is, it is only a to matter of manipulating theright valves in order to effect the detour from C to E and therefore go around D.

Obviou'sl the valve 4 in the water supply line H an whichever two-valves are used in the detouring process will have to be closed if the drainage line is substituted for the water supply line' for detouring. Also the drainage line valve 38 and all of the triplex valves, except the two that are needed must be closed whenthe drainage line is being used 7 for detouring. v

vAs a matter of expediency it is probable that the under-overflow valves below, (down stream from) the compartment that is closed should be partially closed in order togive the upstream compartments more, head in order to insure eificient recirculation.

Normally the nozzle feed f-pumps R and R are connected by theirirespective suction lines 77 and 77 with and nea'i'the' bottom. of the compartment E which is ten feet deep; but in order to take this compartment out of service at times for cleaning, repairing or other contingencies it is essential-to provide another source of nozzle supply water,'hence to meet these contingencies valves 83 and; 83' are provided for the said suction lines. In order to empty this compartment E it is only necessary to close all of itsunder overflow valvesand its water will soon be drawn out by the pumps .3 and R ,in the normal; recirculating process. 7 Then' it will be necessary to close the suction line valves 83 and 83' in the suction lines 77 and 77 and connect said suction lines through by v pass lines 84 and 84 provided with valves 85 and 85' with the main water supply line H. When the valve 4 of the main water supply line is closed and the individual water supply line valve 8 is open, the endless recirculation circuit will be established through out the flume and the B, C and D compartments, but all of the tri'plexvalves 21 and 21', and 22 to 25 inclusive must be closed. Maximum longitudinal surfacecurrent may also be afiorded in the compartments B and C. The individual water supply line valves 5 and 5 and 6 and 7 may also be opened without lessening the volume of water circulated, and without impairing its sterilization. Neither would the surface current in the flume be interfered with. I

. If itis desired to refill the compartment E it will only be necessary to open the main water supply line valve 4 and the individual water supply line valve 9 to let water in from the reservoir until said compartment E is full. In order then to revert to the normal recirculating system it is only necessary to close the by pass line valves 85 and 85' and reopen thesuction line valves 83 and 83'.

It is also practical to provide other by pass lines 86 and 86, provided with valves 98 and '98 to connect the suction lines 77 and- 77 with the drainage line Lto beused as a substitute for the main waterosupply line H in the above mentioned contingencies, and the result will be the same with proper manipulation of the main and individual water sup= ply line valves, and the drainage and triplex valves. I f a v The flume may be operated as an individual unit if so desired by providing still other by pass lines 89 and 89 rovided with valves 90 and 90' to connect t e suction side of the pumps R and R- with and near the hottnm ofthe flume itself, and thereby recirculate its own water without impairingthe surface current, or the sterilizin process. I

The sudden ingress o a considerable num- 1:0

ber of bathers in the flume and various compartments would by the displacement of their volume of water bring about an excessive depth in all; hence, one or more ordinary overflow lines 61 may be used to connect the compartment B, or any other, or each of the compartments with the drainage line I, or direct with the settling tank G to automatically convey the incidental rise to said settling tank by gravity. This overflow line should be just above normal surface level of the flume and compartments.

It is contemplated herein to install hair and lint catchers 87 and 8 7, well known articles of commerce in the suction lines of the pumps R and- R, and thereby materially lessen the work of the filters and prevent cloggin of said pumps.

' The s uction lines ,77 and 77 are provided with choke valves 88 and 188' respectively to regulate the volume of water to be forced through nozzles by the pumps R and R when these choke valves are open wide enough to permit the pumps to take water to their maximum capacity they will produce a given nozzle velocity, and therefore, a given surface current velocity in the flume.

The suction linesand choke valves should be large enough to permit the pumps to handle their rated capacit when said choke valves are wide open. I the capacity of the two pumps is five hundred gallons each per minute, and this volume was discharged into the flume through discharge lines as large as the suction lines. it would have but little tion of this sheet from contacting the surface until it passes the eddy forming point, a

current of several miles per hour may be produced and maintained in the flume.

The object of the choke valves 88 and 88' is to be able to reduce the volume of water to be forced through the nozzles at various times, according to the number of bathers and their whims. A partial closing of the choke valves will require a corresponding adjustment of the nozzle apertures.

It is more economical to handle five hundred gallons of water per minute than it is to handle one thousand gallons against an equal pressure, and the velocity of the surface current will be nearly the same throughout the flume ineither case, but the current will be shallower as the volume is decreased. The surface current velocity in the flume is therefore dependent upon the nozzle velocity rather than volume.

Each bather is an impediment to the surface current, and particularly while standing, or walking against the current, and the number of bathers will be variable; hence the necessity of variable volume, and variable nozzle velocity.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a swimming system comprising an endless flume and various purposed compartments, in combination with pumps to produce an endless surface current in said flume whose suction lines are normally connected with and near the bottom of the deepest compartment, and said flume being interconnected from the bottom thereof with the surface of each compartment by valved underoverflows, and each of said compartments being interconnected from the bottom thereof with the surface of its nextadjoining compartment by other valved underoverflows.

2. The combination in a swimming system, of an endless swimming course, with pumps whose suction lines are provided with choke valves, and whose discharge lines terminate in fiat nozzle having means to adjust their apertures, and other means to adjust their angle as to the horizontal.

3. The combination in a swimming system comprising an endless flume, and wading and swimming-compartments, of pumps to produce an endless current in and throughout said flume by forcing a variable volume of water through suitably disposed flat nozzles, with a piping system comprising a main water supply line and a main drainage line, each of which is connected with the bottom of the flume and each of the compartments by respective triplex lines which are provided with valves so that the flume andvarious compartments may be collectively or separately filled or emptied, or some of them may be filled while others are being emptied, or are out of service, and further adapting said mam water supply line, the main drainage line and the various triplex lines to be used as a detour when one or more of said compartments are out of service, and still further to adapt either said main water supply line, or said main drainage line in connection with one or more of the triplex lines to function as a feed water line when connected with the suction line of the nozzle feed pumps by optional valved by pass lines.

JOHN w. LIPPINCOTT. 

